Reserves Scrape a Win

By: Martin Copass
Date: 12/03/2003

ON a cold breezy night, Town reserves entertained Conference Scarborough’s reserve team, but entertain was not exactly the word for the few hardy souls that turned up.

It was the strongest line-up reserve fans had seen for some time with the inclusion of Barnard, Thompson and omitting the current crop of trialists that have been coming into the club in favour of the regular reserve team players. In the first ten minutes their football suggested that Town might be out to finish off the visitors as early as possible, but once the early good start ended, it turned into a rather drab affair with neither goal keeper being given much chance to keep himself warm on a cold March night.

Soames, Barnard and Thompson all had efforts in the first ten minutes, but the game started to drift into the drab affair it became and despite further efforts from Hockless, Parker and Thompson, the goalless score line never really looked like being broken. Scarborough’s first real goal bound effort didn't come until just before the break and this just about summed up Town’s greater share of the play in the first half.

The second half was no better and the first real threat came from a Scarborough free kick, but again the goalkeeper was no troubled by the effort. After this free kick, the previously impressive Kevin George came on to replace Barnard. Two more efforts from Town midfielder Hockless, came to nothing, and the game seemed destined to wend it’s way to a very disappointing 0-0 draw.

That was until a cross from Town’s right went into a crowded box and Kirk Wheeler headed towards the visitors goal. Despite the efforts of the keeper the linesman signaled the ball had crossed the line and Wheeler had scored for the second week running.

Town mad a double substitution with around four minutes to go, a seemingly pointless move to bring them on in a game that had long looked like crying out for changes a lot earlier than the 86th minute.

With great relief, the referee brought the game to an end and Town won for the second week running against an opposition that should have been finished off a lot earlier than they were.

Town: Allaway, Parker, Barnard, Hockless, Wheeler, Young, Ward, Bolder, Thompson, Soames, Downes.
Subs: George, Hughes, Hildred, Rowan, Ward M.

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